Page 17 of Claimed
I won’t be attending any markets at Inishail either.Coira had told her that abbeys and priories tended to be largely self-sufficient. Even if there was a village nearby, the nuns would likely have little to do with it.
This would possibly be the last market she’d attend.
Brushing crumbs off her skirts, Drew glanced up and caught her guard’s eye. “I’d like to take a turn around the square, Broderick.”
His mouth compressed. “We should really be on our way, milady.”
“I’m sure we have time for this,” she replied airily. Rising to her feet, she adjusted her fur mantle about her shoulders. “Stay here, if ye wish. I won’t be long.”
Of course he didn’t stay with the others. Broderick never let her out of his sight back in Dunan, and he certainly wouldn’t now that they were traveling together.
Usually, his presence irritated her. But today, now that she was feeling herself again, she found she didn’t mind the fact that he walked two steps behind her as she wove her way through the jostling crowd.
Drew stopped before a stall selling cakes and pies. The aroma of the baking made her mouth water, especially when her gaze alighted on a tray of honey-cakes. “How many days’ journey is it to Inishail?” she asked Broderick, casting a glance over her shoulder.
“Another three at most,” he replied, his expression as unreadable as ever. “Once we reach the eastern edge of this loch, we shall head directly south into more mountainous lands.”
Three more days.
Drew turned from him, her attention returning to the honey-cakes. Suddenly, Inishail loomed on the horizon, more of a dungeon than a sanctuary. Back in Dunan, her destination had seemed far off. “I wish it were farther,” she murmured.
“Milady?” Broderick stepped up to her shoulder.
“I’ve seen so little of the world,” she said softly, meeting his eye once more. “Three days isn’t long enough. Three weeks would be better.”
Breaking eye contact with her guard, she motioned to the woman at the stall that she’d like some cakes.
“How many,milady?” the woman asked, a smile stretching her face. Of course, dressed in her fine furs, rings sparkling upon her fingers, Drew stood out in this crowd.
“Eight please,” Drew replied.
“Eight?” Broderick rumbled. “Ye have quite an appetite today, Lady Drew.”
Drew gave an unladylike snort. “Clod-head, these aren’t all for me. I take it ye and the others like honey-cakes?”
“I can’t speak for the others, but I’m very partial to them,” Broderick replied. His grey-blue eyes crinkling at the corners as his mouth curved.
The expression made Drew’s gaze linger upon his face. Carr Broderick was actually quite handsome when he smiled.
Thunder rumbled overhead. The first droplets of rain pattered onto the ground as the company clattered into the tiny white-washed hamlet of Invershiel at dusk. The village sat on the farthest edge of the loch.
Finding lodgings at the only establishment,The Shiel Inn, the travelers saw to their horses before going directly to their rooms. After the excitement of the night before, Broderick had insisted they all get an early night.
Drew noted that none of his men objected. They were all as weary as she was.
Seated at a small table in her bed-chamber, listening to the rain drumming against the shutters, Drew ate her supper of venison stew and oaten dumplings alone.
A hollow sensation settled within her as she ate, despite her rapidly filling belly.
She knew that the night before couldn’t be repeated; she and Broderick had been far too frank with each other. But, all the same, she missed his company.
Goose, she chided herself, putting down her spoon and pushing away the remains of her supper.Ye and Broderick will soon part ways … ye need to get used to not having him nearby.
Her breathing slowed as she dwelled on that thought. For months now, she’d been irritated by his constant presence. But now the thought of saying goodbye to Broderick saddened her.
She wanted to travel with him for a while, chat with him long into the night at smoky inns, tease him until he smiled, and look on while he and his men dealt with troublemakers again.
All of a sudden, she wanted a little unpredictability, a little danger, in her life. Soon she’d be in a place where every moment of her day would adhere to a strict routine. But she wasn’t there yet. There was still time for some excitement.
